The Clean Pantry

A running glossary of clean, organic pantry staples worth buying — the better version of everything on your shelf, whether or not a recipe calls for it.

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Oils & Fats

  • Organic extra-virgin olive oil

    Cold-pressed, unrefined — for finishing and low-heat cooking.

  • Organic avocado oil

    High smoke point for searing and roasting.

  • Organic virgin coconut oil

    Unrefined and cold-pressed, not deodorized.

  • Grass-fed ghee

    Clarified butter — no milk solids, stable at high heat.

  • Organic grass-fed butter

    From pasture-raised cows, no additives.

  • Organic sesame oil

    Toasted for finishing; light/unrefined for stir-frying — not a refined seed oil.

Sweeteners

  • Raw honey

    Unheated and unfiltered, not corn-syrup blended.

  • Pure maple syrup

    Grade A, 100% maple — no 'pancake syrup' fillers.

  • Organic coconut sugar

    Unrefined, one-to-one swap for brown sugar.

  • Blackstrap molasses

    Unsulphured, deep-flavored — great in baking.

  • Organic agave nectar

    Light, raw agave — low-temperature processed, mild flavor for baking and drinks.

  • Organic monk fruit sweetener

    Zero-sugar option without artificial sweeteners.

Grains & Flours

  • Organic all-purpose flour

    Unbleached, unbromated.

  • Almond flour

    Grain-free, fine-blanched for baking.

  • Organic rolled oats

    Whole-grain, no added sugar.

  • Organic quinoa

    Pre-rinsed complete-protein grain.

  • Organic brown rice

    Whole-grain, long or short.

  • Organic spelt flour

    Ancient grain alternative to wheat flour — contains gluten, but often preferred for its nuttier flavor.

Pasta & Noodles

  • Organic durum wheat pasta

    Bronze-cut holds sauce better than smooth extrusion.

  • Brown rice pasta

    Gluten-free with a clean single ingredient.

  • Chickpea pasta

    Higher protein and fiber than white pasta.

  • Buckwheat soba noodles

    Look for 100% buckwheat, not a wheat blend.

  • Organic lentil pasta

    Single-ingredient, higher protein and fiber than white pasta.

Canned & Jarred

  • Organic crushed tomatoes

    Prefer BPA-free cans or glass jars.

  • Organic tomato paste

    Concentrated flavor, no added sugar.

  • Organic full-fat coconut milk

    No gums or stabilizers where possible.

  • Organic bone broth

    Long-simmered, low-sodium base for soups.

  • Organic chickpeas

    No-salt-added, BPA-free lining.

  • Organic diced tomatoes

    No salt added, BPA-free — more texture than crushed for chunky sauces.

Condiments & Sauces

  • Coconut aminos

    Soy- and gluten-free stand-in for soy sauce.

  • Organic tamari

    Richer, gluten-free alternative to soy sauce.

  • Raw apple cider vinegar

    Unfiltered 'with the mother'.

  • Organic Dijon mustard

    No artificial preservatives.

  • Organic ketchup

    Look for no high-fructose corn syrup.

  • Organic fish sauce

    Just anchovies and salt — no MSG.

  • Organic low-sodium soy sauce

    Traditionally brewed, reduced sodium — for those who want soy over coconut aminos.

Nut & Seed Butters

  • Organic peanut butter

    Just peanuts (and maybe salt) — no palm oil or sugar.

  • Organic almond butter

    Single-ingredient, unsweetened.

  • Organic tahini

    Stone-ground sesame, no additives.

  • Organic cashew butter

    Unsalted, single-ingredient — milder than almond butter, great in sauces.

Nuts & Seeds

  • Organic raw almonds

    Unroasted, unsalted.

  • Organic walnuts

    Raw halves, fresh not rancid.

  • Organic chia seeds

    Fiber and omega-3s for baking and puddings.

  • Organic ground flaxseed

    Pre-ground so it's actually digestible.

  • Organic pumpkin seeds

    Raw pepitas for salads and snacking.

  • Organic macadamia nuts

    Raw, unsalted — rich buttery flavor for snacking and baking.

Spices & Seasonings

  • Unrefined sea salt

    No anti-caking agents or added iodine.

  • Organic black peppercorns

    Whole, for a grinder — fresher than pre-ground.

  • Organic smoked paprika

    Single-origin, no fillers.

  • Organic turmeric

    Vibrant color, unadulterated.

  • Organic ground cumin

    Freshly milled beats stale supermarket jars.

  • Organic cinnamon

    Ceylon ('true' cinnamon), milder than cassia.

  • Organic garlic powder

    Fine grind — no anti-caking agents or fillers.

Baking

  • Aluminum-free baking powder

    No metallic aftertaste.

  • Baking soda

    Pure sodium bicarbonate, no additives.

  • Organic cacao powder

    Raw and unsweetened, richer than Dutch-processed.

  • Organic vanilla extract

    Real extract, not imitation vanillin.

  • Organic dark chocolate chips

    Higher cacao, no artificial vanillin or PGPR.

Superfoods & Extras

  • Nutritional yeast

    Savory, cheesy flavor for plant-based cooking.

  • Organic matcha

    Ceremonial grade, stone-ground green tea.

  • Organic unsweetened coconut

    No sulfites or added sugar.

  • Organic dried cranberries

    Apple-juice sweetened, no refined sugar.

  • Organic spirulina powder

    Algae powder for smoothies and bowls — look for a single-ingredient, unflavored version.